Towson - Fall 2010

What’s New

Major Award
NBA Bound
Regents’ Honoree
Teaching Well

Jonathan Lazar, professor of computer and information sciences and director of the universal usability laboratory, received a Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). The $5,000 award recognizes Lazar’s research in improving web accessibility for blind users. For almost a decade, he has collaborated with the NFB and has published numerous studies that examine levels of website compliance with accessibility guidelines, including those of government sites, which by law must be accessible but often are not. Lazar also led a research project that documented how blind users are unlawfully charged higher prices for airfare when airline websites are inaccessible.

Gary Neal ’07, who broke 14 TU records during his two-year career with the Tigers, has signed a three-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs following an eye-opening NBA Summer League performance. After his collegiate career ended in 2007, Neal played overseas in the Turkish Basketball League, the Spanish League and the Italian League, earning All-Italy and All-Euro-league honors. At TU, Neal scored 1,254 points and was among the top five scorers in the nation each year. In his senior year he led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring with a 25. 6 average and was a first team All-CAA selection. Neal becomes the second Tiger to play in the NBA. Kurk Lee ’90 played one season with the New Jersey Nets.

Jack Fruchtman Jr., professor of political science, received a University System of Maryland 2010 Regents’ Faculty Award for research last spring. An internationally recognized scholar on Thomas Paine, Fruchtman, founder and director of TU’s Law and American Civilization Program, has investigated the constitutional, political and historical foundations of Anglo-American and European republican ideas for 30 years. He has written six books, annotated or edited five others, published 18 journal articles, 22 encyclopedia articles and more than 75 essays in popular journals. He co-edited the UK’s highly regarded book series, The Enlightenment World: Political and Intellectual History of the Long Eighteenth Century Series.

Susan Lynn ’05 MAT was one of five finalists in the search for America’s top teacher by “ABC’s Live!” with Regis and Kelly. Lynn, a kindergarten teacher at North Bend Elementary School in Jarrettsville, Md., appeared on the show after being chosen from more than 10,000 nominations nationwide. A video attests to kids who adore her because she’s “fun” and colleagues who speak of her devotion and creativity. In her letter nominating Lynn, Amy Miller, president of the North Bend PTA, writes that Lynn makes learning fun. “She has given these children a foundation that could support a New York City skyscraper.” Lynn appeared on the show in May and was treated to a weekend in New York City, a Caribbean vacation and $10,000 in Crayola supplies for her school.